Frame handler with improved carriage assembly

ABSTRACT

A frame handler adapted to tilt vehicle frames between a horizontal to a vertical position. The frame handler generally comprises a pair of spaced and parallel arms pivotally mounted on a base around a horizontal axis. The arms are adapted to receive a vehicle frame therebetween, whereupon the vehicle frame is clamped between the arms. Hydraulic power means are then utilized to tilt the frame from a horizontal to a vertical position, or vice versa. The above mentioned clamping means include a top guide on each arm which engages the side rails of the frame, and a bottom carriage assembly. The carriage assembly includes at least two carriage arms for each frame handler arm pivotally mounted around a vertical axis when the frame handler is in an upright position. The carriage assembly is in addition movable along a vertical axis so that when a frame is received between the arms, the carriage arms pivot into the interior of the frame and lift upward, thereby engaging a frame cross member or end of the side rail and clamping the frame between the top guides and the bottom carriage assembly.

1 Sept. 16, 1975 1 FRAME HANDLER WITH IMPROVED CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY PrimaryExaminer-Robert G. Sheridan Attorney, Agent, or F irmGiff0rd, Chandler &Sheridan 5 7 ABSTRACT A frame handler adapted to tilt vehicle frames between a horizontal to a vertical position. The frame handlergenerally'comprises a pair of spaced and parallel arms pivotally mountedon a base around a horizontal axis. The arms are adapted to receive avehicle frame therebetween, whereupon the vehicle frame is clampedbetween the arms. Hydraulic power means are then utilized to tilt theframe from a horizontal to a vertical position, or vice versa.

The above mentioned clamping means include a top guide on each arm whichengages the side rails of the frame, and a bottom carriage assembly. Thecarriage assembly includes at least two carriage arms for each framehandler arm pivotally mounted around a vertical axis when the framehandler is in an upright position. The carriage assembly is in additionmovable along a vertical axis so that when a frame is received betweenthe arms, the carriage arms pivot into the interior of the frame andlift upward, thereby engaging a frame cross member or end of the siderail and clamping the frame between the top guides and the bottomcarriage assembly. I

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures FRAME HANDLER WITH IMPROVED CARRIAGEASSENIBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention Thepresent invention generally relates to material handling devices andmore particularly to a device adapted to tilt a vehicle frame between ahorizontal and a vertical position.

II. Description of the Prior Art Vehicle frame handlers, i.e. deviceswhich raise a vehicle frame from a horizontal to a vertical position(generally known as a tip-up unit) or, conversely, devices which lower avehicle frame from a vertical position to a horizontal position(generally known as a tipdown unit), have become quite essential inmodern day assembly lines. Such devices typically place or removevehicle frames on or from a horizontal hook conveyor suspended in anelevated position. While on the hook conveyor, the frames are typicallypainted, dried and then taken to a stacking apparatus to be stacked andtransported to the point of use.

In previously known frame handlers, a pair of spaced and parallel armsare pivotally mounted on a base around a horizontal axis. The arms areadapted to receive a vehicle frame therebetween after which clampingmeans at the outer ends of the arms engage the side rails of the vehicleframe, while a carriage assembly at the other end of the arms locks thebottom end of the vehicle frame.

The previously known carriage assemblies are movable along an axissubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arms andgenerally comprise an elongated horizontal channel extending between thearms with the open portion of the channel between the arms facingupward. The channel is adapted to receive the bottom of the vehicleframe as the carriage assembly shifts upward, thereby securing the framebetween the top clamps and the channel guide. Thus, it should beapparent that in order to accommodate vehicle frames of differentlengths, the carriage must axially slide different distances before thebottom of the frame is received in and, hence, secured by the channel.

Although the previously known carriage assemblies have proven adequatein the past, such carriage assemblies have proven to be inadequate formodern frame handlers due to the great differences in the length of theframes between different types of frames. Thus, in order for thepreviously known frame handler carriage assemblies to accommodate bothlong and short vehicle frames, the carriage assembly must travel thedifference in length between the long and short frames, which distanceis often in excess of five feet.

The problem and major disadvantage of the previously known carriageassemblies is not that the carriage assemblies are incapable oftraveling the required distance between short and long frames, butrather that the cycle time for a complete tip-up or tip-down operationis greatly increased due to the travel time required by the carriageassembly. Thus, as modern day vehicle assembly plants require shorterand shorter cycle times for the frame tip-up or tip-down operation, thepreviously'known carriage assemblies have been unable to meet the cycletime requirements, thereby slowing production lines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The frame handler of the present inventionprovides a new and improved carriage assembly which overcomes the abovementioned disadvantages of the previously known frame handler carriageassemblies. Viewing the frame handler in anupright position at thebeginning of a tip-down operation, the frame handler generally comprisesa pair of spaced and parallel arms pivotally mounted on a base andadapted to receive a vehicle frame therebetween. Guide means areprovided at the top of each arm to frame.

The improved carriage assembly, adapted to engage and secure the vehicleframe near its bottom, includes a first carriage slidably mounted alonga vertical axis on engage the side rails of the one arm and a secondsubstantially identical carriage mounted on the other arm of the framehandler. The

arms around the base from a vertical to a horizontal position. Thecarriage arms are then retracted to their original position and theframe handler is returned to a vertical position in order to receive thenext frame therebetween.

By providing a plurality of carriage arms vertically spaced relative toeach other, it can be seen that the carriage assembly need travel alongits vertical axis only a relatively short distance before one of thecarriage arms engages one of the frame cross members. By reducing thelength of travel for the carriage, the cycle time for the frame handleris correspondingly reduced, thereby eliminating the previously mentioneddisadvantages of previously known frame handlers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The frame handler of the presentinvention will be more clearly understood by reference to the followingdetailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to likeparts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the frame handler of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the means to tilt theframe handler between a horizontal and a vertical position, with partsremoved and enlarged for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a portion of the carriage of thepresent invention with parts removed and enlarged for clarity; I

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 in'FIG. 3 and enlarged for clarity;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a portion of the top clamping means ofthe present invention with parts removed and enlarged for clarity;

. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 inFIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 7-7 inFIG. 5L

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 8--8 inFIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The frame handler of the presentinvention, generally indicated by the numeral 20, for ease ofdescription will be described in an upright position, as shown. in FIG.1, unless otherwise specifically noted. In addition, the frame handlerwill also be described in conjunction with its tip-down operation, i.e.receiving a frame 22 in a vertical position and tilting the frame 22downward to a generally horizontal position. However, as will later bedescribed when specifically noted, the frame handler 20 may also be usedfor a tip-up operation, i.e. receiving a frame in a horizontal positionand raising the frameto a vertical position.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame handler 20 generallycomprises a pair of spaced and parallel vertical support arms 24 and 26which are substantially identical. The arms 24 and 26 are pivotallymounted on a shaft 28 laterally disposed between the arms 24 and 26 sothat the arms 24 and 26 may pivot in unison from a generally verticalposition to a horizontal position around the shaft 28. The shaft 28 issecured to a base 30 in any conventional manner, such as by a supportbar 32.

Each arm 24 or 26 includes a recess 34 along its lower portion with atransverse pivot pin 36 thereacross. Afhydraulic cylinder has one endrotatably mounted to thepivot pin 36 and its other end pivotally mountedaround a pin 38 which is secured to thebase 30 at a point radiallyoffset from the shaft 28. Thus, as can best be seen in FIG. 2, actuationof the hydraulic cylinder 40, i.e. retraction of the piston member 42 ofthe hydraulic cylinder 40, will cause the arm 24 to pivot in acounterclockwise direction around the shaft 28 so that the arm 24 willassume a generally horizontal position. Conversely, extension of thehydraulic cylinder piston member 42, while the arm 24 is in a horizontalposition, will cause the arm 24 to pivot in a clockwise position untilthe arm 24 attains a vertical position. It will be appreciated that,although the above description has referred only to the arm 24, botharms 24 and 26 are coupled together for simultaneous rotation around theshaft 28. In addition, in the preferred form, a separate hydrauliccylinder 40 is fastened to each arm 24 and 26.

An upper side guide 44 and lower side guide 46, best shown in FIGS. 5-7,are secured to the upper end of each arm 24 and 26. Since the sideguides 44 and 46 on each arm 24 or 26 are substantially identical, onlythe side guides 44 and 46 on the arm 24 will be described in detail. Theupper side guide 44 is adapted to engage the side rail 48 of arelatively narrow frame 22, whereas the lower side guide 46 is adaptedto engage the side rail 50 of a frame 22 which is wider than the frame22 engaged by the side guide 44. Thus, in the form shown in FIG. 5, theside guides 44 and 46 are capable of accommodating two different widthframes 22 as will be more fully described hereinbelow. Should it benecessary to accommodate a third frame width size, a third side guidemay be provided, as required, without departing from the spirit or scopeof the present invention.

The upper side guide 44 generally comprises a pair of spaced andparallel ribs 58 fastened to a U-shaped guide member 60 at one endthereof and secured to a shaft 52 at the other end of the ribs 58. Theshaft 52 is rotatably secured to the arm 24 by bearing supports 54 and56 so that the side guide 44 rotates in a vertical plane. A hydrauliccylinder 62, with its associated piston 64, is secured by a pin 66 tothe arm 24 at the cylinder end, while the hydraulic piston 64 isrotatably secured by a pin 68 to a plate 70 which in turn is rigidlysecured to the shaft 52. The axis of the pin 68 is parallel to, butspaced from, the axis of the shaft 52 so that retraction of thehydraulic piston 64, as viewed in FIG. 5, will cause the shaft 52 withthe attached side guide 44 to rotate counterclockwise until the ribs 58of the guide assume a vertical position. Extension of the hy draulicpiston 64 will, conversely, rotate the side guide 44 in a clockwisedirection from a vertical position to the horizontal position shown inFIG. 5 so that the U- shaped member 60 receives the frame side rail 48therein.

The lower side guide 46 generally comprises a hydraulic cylinder 72 withits associated piston 74 and guide member 76 fastened to the outer endof the piston 74 and adapted to receive the frame side rail 50 therein.In order to prevent the guide member 76 from rotating around the axis ofthe hydraulic cylinder 72, which would result in an improper engagementbetween the guide member 76 and the frame side rail 50, a bar 78 ispivotally mounted to the guide member 76 by a shaft 80 and its first endand pivotally mounted to a bracket 82 by a pin 84 at its opposite end.The bracket 82, in turn, is rigidly secured to the arm 24. To furtheraid in properly guiding the guide member 76, a second bar 86 isrotatably mounted by a pin 88 to the bar 78 at one end of the bar 86 andthe opposite end of the bar 86 is received in a pair of registeringslots (not shown) formed through a bracket 90 which in turn is securedto the arm 24. The hydraulic cylinder 72 is also secured to the bracket90 by pins 92.

The lower side guide 46 performs essentially the same function as theupper side guide 44, but in a somewhat different manner. In order forthe guide member 76 to engage the frame side rail 50, the hydrauliccylinder 72 is actuated, thereby extending the hydraulic piston 74 tothe position shown in FIG. 6.

For a reason which will be later explained in detail, there is a smallclearance space 94 between the guide member 60 or 76 and the frame siderail 48 or 50, respectively, when the guides 44 and 46 engage the frameside rail 48 or 50. The lips 96 and 98 on the guide member 60 and thelips 100 and 102 on the guide member 76, however, retain the frame siderails 48 and 50 against lateral movement with the recess of the guidemembers 60 and 76. It should also be understood that the shape of therecess defined by the guide members 60 and 76 corresponds to the shapeof the frame side rail cross section so that the guide members 60 and 76must be designed to accommodate different frame side rail designs.

The improved carriage assembly of the present invention, generallyindicated by the numeral 104, is best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Thecarriage assembly 104 comprises a left carriage 106 and a right carriage108 which are substantially the same and, therefore, only the leftcarriage 106 will be described in detail. A vertically disposedelongated rectangular channel 110 forms the housing of the carriage 106.Two spaced and parallel bearings 112 extend throughout the length of thechannel 110 and are secured by a bracket 114 to the arm 24 at a shortdistance above the carriage 106. Similarly, the bearings 112 are securedby a second bracket 116 to the arm 24 somewhat below the carriage 106.At least one bushing-118, adapted to slide axially along the bearings112, is secured to the carriage 106 so that the entire carriage 106 mayaxially slide along and be guided by the bearings 112 within the limitsdefined by the brackets 1 14 and 116. A backtoback hydraulic cylinderpair 120, comprising an upper cylinder 176 and a lower cylinder -177, issecured at its upper end by a.bracket 122 to the arm 24 and is securedat its lower end by a bracket 124 and pin 126 to the top of the carriage106. The back-to-back cylinder 120 is utilized to effect verticalmovement of the carriage 106 along the bearings 112. As should beapparent, contraction of the hydraulic cylinder 120 will lift thecarriage 106, while extension of the cylinder 120 will lower thecarriage 106. The purpose of utilizing a back-to-back hydraulic cylinder120, rather than a single hydraulic cylinder, will be understood whenthe operation of the present invention is hereinafter described.

Although a back-to-back cylinder 120 is connected to each carriage 106and 108, the carriages 106 and 108 are synchronized in their respectivevertical movement by a rack and pinion in the following manner. Anelongated rectangular channel 128 is rigidly secured by bolts 130 or thelike to the lower end of each carriage 106 and 108 so that the lowerendof the channel 128 extends below the carriage 106 and 108. A gear rack132 is fastened to the lower end of each channel 128 (only one is shown)so that the gear racks 132 are spaced and parallel. A shaft 134 with anattached pinion 136 at each end thereof is horizontally disposed betweenthe channels 128 so that the pinions 136 mesh with the gear racks 132.It can therefore be seen that a vertical movement of one carriage 106with the attached channel 128 is synchronized with the other carriage108 via the racks 132, pinions 136 and shaft 134. The shaft 134 isjoumaled by conventional bearing means (not shown) to the base 30.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, a number of brackets 138are secured to the carriage 106 along the right side of the carriage 106as viewed in FIG. 3. Each bracket 138 includes a vertical bore 140therethrough. The bores 140 in each bracket 138 register with each otherand are adapted to receive a shaft 142 therethrough. The bores 140 arealso provided with appropriate bearings (not shown) so that the shaft142 is journaled for rotation in the brackets 138.

As shown in FIG. 3, six brackets 138 are secured to the carriage 106.The brackets 138 are preferably not equidistantly spaced along thecarriage 106, but rather are grouped in three pairs of brackets 138,hereinafter referred to as the upper, middle and lower bracket pair 144,146 and 148 respectively. Three carriage arms 150 are secured to theshaft 142 so that the arms 150 rotate with the shaft 142 in anyconventional manner. Preferably, one arm is positioned between thebrackets 138 of each bracket pair 144, 146 and 148.

Each arm 150 comprises a central segment 152 and an outer hook segment154. The central segment 152 is adapted to swing over the frame siderail 50, as will be shortly explained, while the hooksegment 154 engagesa frame cross member 156 and thus supports the bottom of the frame 22.As shown in FIG. 8, the hook segment 154 of the arm 150 preferablyincludes a recess tot) to'rcceive an edge of the cross member 156therein. lt will be appreciated, however, that the hook segment 154 ofthe arm 150 must be designed to accommodate the particular frame crossmember 156 with which it is to be used.

The aforementioned swing of the arms 150 is effectuated by a hydrauliccylinder 162 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The hydraulic cylinder 162 is securedat one end to a bracket 164 by a shaft 166, which bracket 164 is in turnsecured to the carriage 106 by any conventional method such as welding.The piston 168 of the cylinder 162 is pivotallysecured by a pin 170 to aplate 172 which is fixed to the shaft 142. The axis of the pin 170 isparallel to the axis of the shaft 142, but spaced therefrom, and theaxis of the cylinder 162 is normal to the axis of the shaft 142 so thatextension of the hydraulic piston 168 causes the shaft 142 with theattached arm to swing clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 4) to the positionshown in phantom lines. Conversely, retraction of the hydraulic piston168 causes the middle segment 152 of the arm 150 to swing over the frameside rail 50 so that the hook segment 154 of the arm 152 engages theframe cross member 156.

Having described the component parts of my invention, the tip-downoperation will now be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a hook conveyor 172typically comprises a number of hooks 174 moving horizontally in anelevated position. The hook conveyor 172 generally comprises an l-beamsecured in an elevated position above the frame handler 20. A pluralityof wheel pairs 182 ride along the base of the l-beam and have downwardlyextending brackets 184 which are secured in any conventional manner to achain 186. A number of plates 188, having downwardly extending brackets190, are secured at evenly spaced intervals along the bottom of thechain 186 by any conventional means such as bolts 192. A hook 174,having a pair of laterally extending cylindrical members 194, ispivotally connected to the bracket 190 by a pin 196. Preferably, a pairof spaced supports 198 and 200 comprise the support leg of the hook 174so that the hook 174 may pivot upward until the spaced supports 198 and200 straddle the chain 186. A ramp 202 (only one is shown) is adapted toengage each cylindrical member 194 to effect the above mentioned pivotalmovement of the hook 174. A selectively operable door 204 is provided insaid track to release the cylindrical members 194 and drop the hook 174in order to engage the frame cross member 156 when all safetyconditions, and the like, have been satisfied. If all safety conditionsand the like have not been met, the door 204 is not opened and the hook174 will pass over and/or through the frame 22 without contacting theframe 22.

The hooks 174 support the frames 22 in a vertical position by typicallyengaging the cross member 156. As the frame 22 moves between the arms 24and 26, limit switches, which have not been described in detail for suchswitches'are well known in the art, are actuated which indicate both thewidth of the frame 22 and initiate the tip-down operation. Accordingly,either the upper side guide 44 or the lower side guide 46 is actuated toengage the frame side rails 48 or 50, respectively.

The hydraulic cylinder 162 is then actuated to swing the central segment152 of the arms 150 over the frame side rails 50 so that at least one ofthe hook segments 154 of the arms 150 is underneath a frame cross memher156. The upper cylinder 176 of the back-to-back cylinder 120 is thenactuated, thus lifting the carriage assembly 104 upward so that thebottom frame cross member 156 is received in the recess 160 of the hooksegment 154 of the arm 150. In the operation as thus far described, theframe 22 is firmly secured in the frame handler between the side guide44 or 46 and the arms 150.

The lower cylinder 177 of the back-to-back cylinder 120 is thenactuated, thereby again lifting the carriage assembly 104. The arms 150will thus push the frame 22 upward through the sliding engagement of theside guides 44 or 46 to lift the frame 22 off the hook 174 so that theframe 22 may be lowered. Hydraulic cylinders 40 are then actuated tolower the arms 24 and 26 of the frame handler 20 to a generallyhorizontal position. The arms 150 and the guides 44 or 46 are thenretracted to free the frame 22. A conveyor (not shown) typically movesthe lowered frame 22 away from the unloading station and the framehandler 20 is returned to a vertical position to receive the next frame22 for lowering.

The tip-up operation is essentially the reverse of the above describedtip-down operation. The frame 22 is received typically from a conveyor(not shown) in a horizontal position between the arms 24 and 26. Theside guides 44 or 46 and the arms 150 are actuated to lock the frame 22between the arms 24 and 26 of the frame handler as hereinbeforedescribed Hydraulic cylinders 40 are actuated to lift the arms 24 and 26to a vertical position. When a hook 174 is properly positioned under thetop cross member 156 of the frame, the carriage assembly 104 is loweredby the back-toback hydraulic cylinder 120 to drop the frame 22 onto thehook 174. The side guides 44 or 46 and the arms 150 are then retractedto free the frame 22 and the frame handler 20 is lowered to a horizontalposition to receive the next frame 22 for lifting.

The advantages achieved by the present invention over previously knownframe handlers can best be understood by reference to FIG. 3. Thecarriage 106 is shown engaging three different frame lengths designatedas having bottom cross members 156, 156 and 156". It must be realized,however, that the carriage 106 engages only a single frame cross member156, I56 or 156" at any given time and that the three separate framelengths are shown for illustration and explanation only.

The top arm 150 engages cross member 156" which corresponds to arelatively short frame 22, the middle arm 150 engages cross member 156and the bottom arm 150 engages cross member 156 which correspond torelatively longer frames. Thus, because the carriage arms 150 are spacedalong the carriages 106 and 108, only a vertical movement (typicallyfour inches) of the carriage 106 is required to accommodate a variancein frame length between cross members 156 and 156", which typicallyexceeds five feet. By reducing the length of the travel of the carriages106 and 108, the cycle time for the tip-up or tip-down operation issignificantly reduced, thereby enabling the frame handler 20 to meet theshort cycle time requirements of modern day assembly plants.

Having described my invention. many modifications and alterations willbe apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present inventionpertains without departing from the spirit of the invention as definedby the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A frame handler adapted to move a vehicle frame between a horizontaland a vertical position, said frame having at least two side rails andat least one cross member, said frame handler comprising:

a base;

a pair of spaced and parallel arms pivotally mounted around a horizontalaxis to said base;

means to move said arms between a substantially horizontal and asubstantially vertical position;

side guide means secured to said arms near the upper end of each of saidamis when said arms are in a vertical position, said side guide meansadapted to engage the side rails of said frame in a slidingengagementtherewith; and

a carriage assembly comprising:

a first and a second carriage respectively secured to each of said armsat a position spaced from said guide means along said arms, wherein saidcarriages are slidably mounted towards said guide means;

means to move said carriages along said frame handler arms; I

at least two carriage arms secured to each of said carriages, saidcarriage arms being rotatably mounted around a vertical axis when saidframe handler arms are in a vertical position, wherein said carriagearms are adapted to swing into the interior of said frame to engage atleast one of said cross members of said frames; and means to rotate saidarms.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including means tosynchronize said vertical movement of said carriage.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said last mentioned meanscomprises a shaft rotatably mounted to said base between and generallyperpendicular to said frame handler arms, a pinion fixed to each end ofsaid last mentioned shaft and a rack secured to each carriage, whereineach of said racks meshes with one of said pinions.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said first mentionedmeans comprises at least one hydraulic cylinder secured at one end tosaid base and secured at its second end to one of said frame handlerarms, wherein the longitudinal axis of said hydraulic cylinder issubstantially perpendicular to the pivotal axis of said frame handlerarms.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said side guide meanscomprises at least two side guide members on each of said frame handlerarms and means to extend said side guide members towards thecorresponding guide members on the opposing frame handler arm.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein the distance betweencorresponding side guide members when fully extended towards each otheris less for one pair of corresponding side guide members than for thesecond corresponding pair of side guide members when said secondcorresponding pair of side guide members are fully extended.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including a hook conveyor,said hook conveyor having a plurality of spaced and downwardly extendinghooks, wherein each of said hooks is adapted to support one of saidframes by one of said frame cross members, and means ramp adapted toreceive said laterally extending mem- Qp Said hook to a horizcmmlPositiolf and E her to raise said hook to said horizontal position, andsad hook to adownwardly extendmg vemcal posmon a selectively operabledoor in said track adapted to when desired, to engage said frame crossmember. d h k d d] l 8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said5 mp Sa] 00 to Sal ownwar y exten mg vemca hook includes at least onelaterally extending member Position when Said door is p and wherein saidlast mentioned means comprises a

1. A frame handler adapted to move a vehicle frame between a horizontaland a vertical position, said frame having at least two side rails andat least one cross member, said frame handler comprising: a base; a pairof spaced and parallel arms pivotally mounted around a horizontal axisto said base; means to move said arms between a substantially horizontaland a substantially vertical position; side guide means secured to saidarms near the upper end of each of said arms when said arms are in avertical position, said side guide means adapted to engage the siderails of said frame in a sliding engagement therewith; and a carriageassembly comprising: a first and a second carriage respectively securedto each of said arms at a position spaced from said guide means alongsaid arms, wherein said carriages are slidably mounted towards saidguide means; means to move said carriages along said frame handler arms;at least two carriage arms secured to each of said carriages, saidcarriage arms being rotatably mounted around a vertical axis when saidframe handler arms are in a vertical position, wherein said carriagearms are adapted to swing into the interior of said frame to engage atleast one of said cross members of said frames; and means to rotate saidarms.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including means tosynchronize said vertical movement of said carriage.
 3. The invention asdefined in claim 2 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a shaftrotatably mounted to said base between and generally perpendicular tosaid frame handler arms, a pinion fixed to each end of said lastmentioned shaft and a rack secured to each carriage, wherein each ofsaid racks meshes with one of said pinions.
 4. The invention as definedin claim 1 in which said first mentioned means comprises at least onehydraulic cylinder secured at one end to said base and secured at itssecond end to one of said frame handler arms, wherein the longitudinalaxis of said hydraulic cylinder is substantially perpendicular to thepivotal axis of said frame handler arms.
 5. The invention as defined inclaim 1 in which said side guide means comprises at least two side guidemembers on each of said frame handler arms and means to extend said sideguide members towards the corresponding guide members on the opposingframe handler arm.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein thedistance between corresponding side guide members when fully extendedtowards each other is less for one pair of corresponding side guidemembers than for the second corresponding pair of side guide memberswhen said second corresponding pair of sidE guide members are fullyextended.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 1 and including a hookconveyor, said hook conveyor having a plurality of spaced and downwardlyextending hooks, wherein each of said hooks is adapted to support one ofsaid frames by one of said frame cross members, and means to pivot saidhook to a horizontal position and release said hook to a downwardlyextending vertical position, when desired, to engage said frame crossmember.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said hookincludes at least one laterally extending member and wherein said lastmentioned means comprises a ramp adapted to receive said laterallyextending member to raise said hook to said horizontal position, and aselectively operable door in said track adapted to drop said hook tosaid downwardly extending vertical position when said door is open.